Manual or Auto in Irish winter weather

Heighway61 · 19-08-2021 12:58pm #1

I live in the sticks up a bit of a hill. I drive a manual and in ice/snow/hail I go down the hill in second or sometimes first gear. Will be changing car soon and was thinking automatic but am wondering about this type of winter weather and gear control. Would auto be manageable or should I stick to manual? Would auto manual override give control as good as manual?

bazz26 · 19-08-2021 1:04pm

I think a vehicle with 4wd or awd might be more useful in those conditions than just the type of gearbox.

Heighway61 · 19-08-2021 1:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117775762#Comment_117775762

Was thinking that but a bit reluctant due to budget and availability in the models I'm looking at.

Auto Trader and Parker's have good things to say about Grip Control but availability is an issue here too.

ednwireland · 19-08-2021 1:24pm

whatever you buy just stick decent winter or all season tyres on it. once I went down that road the cars fairly irrelevant. (unless you go full 4x4)

Allinall · 19-08-2021 1:27pm

Most modern automatics have a manual element to them- paddle shift etc., which will hold the car in a particular gear.

This should be enough to replicate a manual gearbox.

zilog_jones · 19-08-2021 2:23pm

Nearly any automatic has a way of holding lower gears, even those with only the traditional linear selector, usually marked as "L" or "B", or sometimes multiple options like "1" and "2" (1 would only allow first gear, while 2 would allow both first and second). You don't need paddles or Tiptronic (other brands are available) to do this. CVTs usually have an equivalent of holding higher ratios too.

With good tyres, and gentle throttle/brake control you shouldn't have any trouble in a situation like this in winter.

freddieot · 19-08-2021 3:51pm

Not an issue. It's long time since I've seen an automatic without the capability to select the gears manually either with the gear lever (+ and -) or with paddles on the steering column. Given the type of situation you describe you would need to take over from the auto selection or it might change gear just when you don't want.

Tyres make a big difference

AWD can make a big big difference but the gain over a good FWD drive set up with all season tyres may not pay you if you are watching budget.

Phil.x · 20-08-2021 11:14am

I think the Toyota auto has a B option on the gearbox to give the feeling of engine braking when going downhill, but I've never used it.

Esel · 20-08-2021 7:19pm

Older autoboxes with a torque converter do not give much engine braking effect.

Gregor Samsa · 20-08-2021 9:59pm

I deal with a lot of people in Minnesota, where they have horrendous winters. They all drive FWD automatics, but they all change over to winter tyres around the end of October. Appropriate tyres are the single most important element for safer driving on ice or snow. That and driving technique - appropriate speed, appropriate braking, appropriate steering.

NSAman · 20-08-2021 10:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117782837#Comment_117782837

I live south of here, very few people drive fwd due to the amount of snow we get. AWD or 4wheel is the main type of vehicle. All weather tyres (tires) are also used by the vast majority of people. Winter tyres are only changed on select models of cars as they tend to be expensive. Automatic or manual really makes no difference in snow nowadays, my driveway is a hill, 4 wheel drive is the ONLY thing that will get me out when it snows.

Stallingrad · 23-08-2021 9:16am

Chose whichever gearbox suits your preference, then get winters or all season tyres which will take care of that hill.

Heighway61 · 23-08-2021 2:48pm

Cheers for the replies. AWD is not available in the car I'm going for. Will get winter/snow tyres.

Manual or Auto in Irish winter weather

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